Mental health: students in the Netherlands feel slightly better than four years ago

This is the third time that thousands of students have been surveyed about their mental health and their use of alcohol and drugs. A significant proportion of respondents still suffer from mental health problems, according to the Trimbos Institute, RIVM and GGD GHOR Netherlands.

Mental health has improved significantly since the first survey in 2021, when students were still struggling with lockdowns. The difference between 2023 and 2025 is much smaller.

Students are feeling slightly more satisfied with life: the average score rose from 6 during the pandemic to 6.7 in 2023. It is now 6.8 on a 10-point scale.

Fewer students feel lonely, too: the percentage has fallen from 79 to 62 to 60 per cent since 2021. In addition, students feel less pressured to perform, as indicated by a drop from 54 to 44 to 41 per cent.

This does not mean that the problems are over. More than 80 per cent of students have experienced feelings of anxiety or depression in the past month, and about 25 percent sometimes feel tired of life. More than 50 percent of respondents are under a lot of stress, mainly due to their studies, but also due to personal problems or financial worries.

Substance use
Alcohol and cannabis are the most commonly used substances among students. One in four students in the Netherlands is an excessive or heavy drinker. Almost fifty percent have used cannabis at some point and 5 per cent do so weekly.

Ecstasy also remains popular among students: one in five has used this drug at some point, and 11 per cent of respondents did so in the past year. When it comes to cocaine, the figures are 10 and 5 per cent, respectively. Fifteen per cent of respondents have also taken psychedelic drugs such as mushrooms or LSD.

Those who live in student accommodation seem to use more drugs than those who still live with their parents. The survey also indicates that students who are under a lot of stress and/or have sleep problems are more likely to use alcohol or drugs.

According to the survey, students are less likely to seek help for problems with substance use (22 per cent) than for mental health issues (66 per cent). Respondents often indicate that they do not feel the need to do so.

Response
A total of 27,000 students from 13 universities of applied sciences and 11 research universities completed the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of almost 6 per cent. However, there may be a bias here as students with mental health problems might be more inclined to participate.

The authors of the report are aware of this possibility, which is why they emphasise that the figures are not exact. They just provide a general picture of students' mental health and substance use.

Student response
And that picture is worrying, according to the National Student Union (LSVb). "A generation is drowning while politicians stand by and watch," says chair Maaike Krom. She criticises the austerity measures imposed against education, which she expects will deteriorate students' mental health further. She argues that the budget cuts will ultimately affect student welfare projects.

LSVb also mentions the housing shortage and the financial problems faced by students as detrimental to their mental health. The union is calling for a higher basic grant (the monthly allowance the government gives higher education students, Ed.), a mandatory internship allowance, lower interest rates on student loans and, of course, more student housing. "It's up to the politicians now," says Krom.

According to the National Student Association (ISO), the glass is half full. ISO praises the “major steps” that educational institutions have taken in recent years, although chair Sarah Evink believes there is still room for improvement: “If you don't show up for work, you get a call asking if everything is okay. But if you're a student, this almost never happens."

ISO advocates a “duty of care” for educational institutions. In their view, institutions should ask students how they are doing more often. In addition, ISO believes that the education system should cause less stress. Evink believes this could be achieved if politicians increased the basic grant and placed less emphasis on rapid graduation.

The minister reacts
The outgoing Minister of Education, Gouke Moes, sees the report primarily as a confirmation that the current policy is bearing fruit. "It's great to see that students' mental health seems to be improving," he reacts. "Feeling comfortable in your own skin is a prerequisite for studying well."

The minister stressed that educational institutions and students have been working hard on mental health, and that this appears to be working. As far as he is concerned, the Ministry of Education will continue to support the national programme for student wellbeing (STIJN).

He also wants to look for solutions outside the education sector. "Addressing mental health is a broader social challenge," he believes. "Local cooperation between educational institutions, municipalities and the healthcare sector is essential to improving student wellbeing. Students' voices cannot be ignored, either, of course. I have been talking to national student organisations, but student representatives and the student council can also play a significant role at the local level."

For several years, some cities in the Netherlands have had “student officials” who act as a bridge between the municipal council and students. They contribute ideas on issues such as student housing, but also mediate with neighbours in the event of mutual disputes. The participation councils of universities and universities of applied sciences influence their institutions' policies, including their approach to student wellbeing.

Universities react
Dutch universities are pleased with the improvement, a spokesperson for their umbrella organisation, UNL, says. "Dutch universities have made a strong effort to increase students' sense of belonging, improve the provision of information and the guidance structure, so that students know where to go with their questions."

Student wellbeing remains an important focus for universities. "We should continue to do this alongside other organisations. The survey also shows that many circumstances outside of education influence the wellbeing of young people and students."